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United States Patent 5,186,258
Wood ,   et al. February 16, 1993
Horizontal inflation tool

Abstract

A well tool having an anchor device, straddle packers above and below a port and an internal valve which are operated by longitudinal motion in an inflatable packer device. The well tool anchor is armed by a hydraulic operated plug and set upon downward motion in a locating profile groove in a well bore. The tool when attached to a string of tubing can be filled with cement slurry and downward motion used to anchor the well tool in a profile groove in an inflatable packer; to set the straddle packers above and below an access port on an inflatable packer; and then to open a valve to admit cement slurry to the inflatable packer. After filling the inflatable packer with cement slurry, an upward motion is used to close the valve, unset the straddle packers and release the anchor to move to another location where the operation can be repeated. At the conclusion of operations, a circulation valve is opened by pressure to reverse out cement slurry from the tubing string.

Inventors: Wood; Edward T. (Kingwood, TX); Surgnier; David H. (Golden, CO); Brooks; Robert T. (Aberdeen, GB6)
Assignee: CTC International Corporation (Houston, TX)
Appl. No.: 748788
Filed: August 22, 1991

Current U.S. Class: 166/387; 166/50; 166/115; 166/127; 166/147; 166/187; 166/191; 166/237; 166/386
Intern'l Class: E21B 033/124; E21B 033/127; E21B 034/12; 334; 382; 386; 387
Field of Search: 166/50,73,115,116,119,127,136,141,147,185,186,187,191,196,206,212,214,237,289

References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
2431751Dec., 1947Hayward166/217.
3412805Nov., 1968Gribbin et al.166/184.
4640351Feb., 1987Clifton et al.166/127.
4671352Jun., 1987Magee, Jr. et al.166/127.
4714117Dec., 1987Dech166/380.
4794989Jan., 1989Mills166/387.
4856583Aug., 1989Greenlee et al.166/127.
5082062Jan., 1992Wood et al.166/382.

Primary Examiner: Dang; Hoang C.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fidler; Donald H.
Parent Case Text


This is a divisional of co-pending application Ser. No. 586248 filed on Sep. 21, 1990, and now the U.S. Pat. No. 5,082,062.
Claims


We claim:

1. A method of placing a string of tubing in fluid communication with an isolated interval of a tubular member in a well bore which traverses earth formations comprising the steps of:

disposing a well tool on the string of tubing in the tubular member in a well bore at a desired location where said well tool has an elongated tubular actuating member coupled to said string of tubing;

anchoring said well tool at said desired location in the tubular member in the well bore against downward movement;

applying weight through longitudinal motion of said string of tubing in one direction for setting spaced apart packing elements on said well tool in a sealing relationship to the tubular member in the well bore for defining an isolated annular space between said packing elements;

applying additional weight through longitudinal motion of said string of tubing in said one direction for opening valve means in said well tool and for placing said isolated annular space and the interior of the string of tubing in fluid communication with one another.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein a liquid is communicated between said isolated annular space and the interior of the string of tubing.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said packing elements are locked in a set condition.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said valve means is subsequently closed by longitudinal motion of the string of tubing in an opposite direction while said packing elements are locked in said set condition and wherein said packer elements are unlocked and returned to an unset condition by further longitudinal motion of the string of tubing in said opposite direction.

5. The method as set forth in claim 4 and further including the steps of relocating said well tool to a second desired location in the well bore,

anchoring said well tool at said second desired location in the well bore against downward movement;

applying weight through longitudinal motion of said string of tubing in one direction for setting the spaced apart packing elements on said actuating member in a sealing relationship to the well bore and locking said packing elements in a set condition for defining an isolated annular space between said packing elements;

after locking said packing elements in a set condition, applying additional weight through longitudinal motion of said string of tubing in said one direction for opening valve means in said well tool and placing said isolated annular space and the interior or the string of tubing in fluid communication with one another.

6. The method as set forth in claim 5 wherein a liquid is communicated between said isolated annular space and the interior of the string of tubing.

7. The method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said valve means is subsequently closed by longitudinal motion of the string of tubing in an opposite direction while said packing elements are locked in a set condition and wherein said packer elements are unlocked and returned to an unset condition by further longitudinal motion of the string of tubing in said opposite direction.

8. The method as set forth in claim 7 and further including the steps of relocating said well tool to a third desired location in a well bore, and reverse circulating the liquid from the string of tubing before retrieving the well tool.

9. A method of inflating inflatable well packers disposed in a well bore on a string of pipe comprising the steps of:

using a string pf tubing to dispose a well tool in an inflatable well packer where said well tool has an anchor device, straddle packers above and below a port and an internal valve which are operated by longitudinal motion and said inflatable well packer has a profile recess,

actuating the anchor device by a hydraulic operated plug,

filling the string of tubing with a cement slurry to the internal valve which is in a closed condition,

moving the string of tubing downwardly to set the anchor device in the profile recess,

moving the string of tubing downward to set the straddle packers above and below an access port on the inflatable well packer,

opening the valve by further downward movement of the string of tubing to admit cement slurry to the inflatable packer,

after filling the inflatable packer with cement slurry, pulling up on the string of tubing to close the valve,

after closing the valve, pulling up on the string of tubing to upset the straddle packers and to release the anchor (to move to another location) where the operation can be repeated.

10. The method as set forth in claim 9 where the cement slurry is reversed circulated out of the string of tubing when all operations are completed.

11. A well tool having weight set packer elements for selectively straddling an interval of a tubular member in a well bore and for selectively coupling the straddled interval of the tubular member between packer elements to the interior of a supporting string of tubing comprising:

a tubular central actuating member for coupling to the supporting string of tubing;

anchor means on said actuating member for selectively anchoring said well tool in the tubular member in the well bore and for permitting relative longitudinal movement of said actuating member in one direction while said well tool is anchored;

packer means including a packer support member disposed along said central actuating member where said packer support member has a support port, a lower expander collar, a lower expander element, an intermediate expander collar with a valve port, an upper packer element and an upper expander collar slidably mounted on said packer support member where said lower expander collar is coupled to said anchor means and said valve port is alignable with said support port for fluid communication;

said packer elements being disposed on said packer support member in a normally retracted condition and responsive to weight applied first longitudinal movement of said actuating member in said one direction to move to an extended sealing condition with respect to the tubular member in the well bore to seal off the straddled interval of the tubular member in the well bore;

valve means on said actuating member for selectively placing the interior of said actuating member in fluid communication with the sealed off straddled interval of the tubular member in the well bore through said valve port and said support port after said packer means are in the extended sealing condition, said valve means being operative in response to second longitudinal movement of said actuating member in said one direction after said packer elements are in the extended sealing condition; and

releasable locking means on said central actuating member for releasably locking said packer support member and said upper expander collar to one another and for releasably locking said packer means in the extended sealing condition prior to said valve means being selectively operated, said releasable locking means including locking member releasably interconnecting said upper expander collar to said central actuating member and releasably interconnecting said packer support member and said upper expander collar when said packer means are in the extended sealing condition.

12. The well tool as set forth in claim 11 and further including means for coupling additional weight to said packer elements after said packer means are moved to the extended sealing condition and are releasably locked in the extended sealing condition.

13. The well tool as set forth in claim 11 and further including a valve sleeve disposed between said packer support member and said central actuating member, said valve sleeve having a sleeve port insolated from fluid communication with said support port while said packer means are moved to and locked in the extended sealing condition,

second locking means for releasably maintaining said valve sleeve locked to said packer support member with said sleeve port isolated until said packer means are locked in the expended sealing condition, said second locking means being released from said packer support member and connected to said central actuating member upon said packer means being locked in the extended sealing condition for moving said sleeve port into fluid communication with said support port and said valve port.

14. The well tool as set forth in claim 13 wherein said second locking means includes collet fingers with detents received in an annular recess in said packer support member, said detents on said collet fingers being releasable into an annular groove on said central actuating member and said central actuating member having a shoulder engageable with a shoulder on said valve sleeve for moving said valve sleeve with said central actuating member.

15. A well tool having weight set packer elements for selectively straddling an interval of a tubular member in a well bore and for selectively coupling the straddled interval of the tubular member between the packer elements to the interior of a supporting string of tubing comprising:

a tubular central actuating member for coupling to the supporting string of tubing;

anchor means on said actuating member for selective anchoring said well tool in the tubular member in the well bore and for permitting relative longitudinal movement of said actuating member while anchored;

said anchor means including relatively movable tubular members coupled to one another and defining enlongated circumferentially located recesses;

elongated dog members pivotally disposed in said recesses and in a retracted condition and a first longitudinal position of said tubular members, spring means normally biasing said dog members toward an extended condition;

means for moving said tubular members to a second longitudinal position where one end of each dog member pivots outwardly toward an extended condition;

said one end of each dog member being engageable with a corresponding latching recess in the tubular member in the well bore for anchoring said well tool against movement in one direction relative to said tubular member;

packer means including weight set packer elements disposed on said actuating member in a normally retracted condition and responsive to weight applied first longitudinal movement of said actuating member to move to an extended sealing condition with respect to the tubular member in the well bore to seal off the interval of the tubular member in the well bore; and

valve means on said actuating member for selectively placing the interior of said actuating member in fluid communication with the sealed off interval of the tubular member in the well bore, said valve means being operative in response to second longitudinal movement of said actuating member after said packer elements are in the extended sealing condition.

16. The apparatus as set forth in claim 15 and further including means for locking said tubular members in said second longitudinal position.

17. The apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein said dog members have a tab portion which releasably interconnects said anchor means to said central actuating member in the retracted condition of the dog members and releases only upon location of said one end in a corresponding latching recess in a tubular member.

18. The apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein said dog members have a tab portion which releasably interconnects said anchor means to said central actuating member in the retracted condition of the dog members and releases only upon location of said one end in a corresponding latching recess in a tubular member.

19. The apparatus as set forth in claim 17 and further including locating means on said anchor means for developing a change in force in the string of tubing upon engaging a locating site in the tubular member in the well bore for use in locating the dog members relative to the latching recesses.

20. The apparatus as set forth in claim 18 and further including locating means on said anchor means for developing a change in force in the string of tubing upon engaging a locating site in the tubular member in the well bore for use in locating the dog members relative to the latching recesses.

21. The apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said locating means include lengthwise extending spring members having detent positions for engaging shoulder locations in the tubular member.

22. The apparatus as set forth in claim 20 wherein said locating means include lengthwise extending spring members having detent positions for engaging shoulder locations in the tubular member.

23. The apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein said means for locking includes a snap ring and recess interconnecting means.

24. The apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein said dog members each have a notch recess for engaging a shoulder in the respective latching recess.

25. A well tool having weight set packer elements for selectively straddling an interval of a tubular member in a well bore and for selectively coupling the straddled interval of the tubular member between the packer elements to the interior of a supporting string of tubing comprising:

an inflatable packer means with an inflatable packer element on said tubular member and including an access opening to said inflatable packer element;

a tubular central actuating member for coupling to the supporting string of tubing;

anchor means on said actuating member for selective anchoring said well tool in the tubular member in the well bore and for permitting relative longitudinal movement of said actuating member while anchored;

packer means including weight set packer elements disposed on said actuating member in a normally retracted condition and responsive to weight applied first longitudinal movement of said actuating member to move to an extended sealing condition with respect to the tubular member in the well bore to seal off the interval of the tubular member in the well bore where the sealed off interval includes said access opening whereby cement slurry can be selectively introduced to the access opening in the inflatable packer means.

valve means on said actuating member for selectively placing the interior of said actuating member in fluid communication with the sealed off interval of the tubular member in the well bore, said valve means being operative in response to second longitudinal movement of said actuating member after said packer elements are in the extended sealing condition.

26. A well tool having weight set packer elements for selectively straddling an interval of a tubular member in a well bore and for selectively coupling a straddled interval of the tubular member in the well bore between the packer elements to the interior of a supporting string of tubing comprising:

the tubular central actuating member for coupling to a supporting string of tubing;

anchor means on said actuating member for selective anchoring in the well bore and permitting relative longitudinal movement of said actuating member while anchored;

packer means including a packer support member disposed along said actuating member;

a lower expander collar connected to said anchor means, a lower packer element, an intermediate expander collar with a valve port, an upper packer element and an upper expander collar which are all slidable relative to said packer support member, said packer elements being disposed on said actuating member in a normally retracted condition and responsive to weight applied longitudinal movement of said actuating member to move to an extended sealing condition with respect to the tubular member to seal off the interval of the tubular member and to be releasably locked in the extended sealing condition;

said upper expander collar having packer locking means disposed intermediate of said packer support member and said central actuating member, said packer locking means releasably coupling said upper expander collar to said central actuating member during longitudinal movement to move said packer elements to the extended sealing condition and releasable from said central actuating member for releasably locking said packer support member to said upper expander collar;

valve means on said actuating member for selectively placing the interior of said actuating member in fluid communication with the sealed off interval of the well bore, said valve means being operative in response to second longitudinal movement of said actuating member after said packer elements are releasably locked in the extended sealing condition;

said valve means including a valve sleeve with a sleeve port and collet fingers with locking detents for locking said valve sleeve to said packer support member in a condition isolating said sleeve port from said valve port, said central actuating member having a recess for releasing said locking detents from said packer support member and having means for moving said valve sleeve, when released, with said central actuating member for opening said valve after the packing elements are in the extended sealing condition.

27. An elongated well tool having weight set packer elements for selectively straddling an interval of a tubular member in a well bore and for selectively communicating the straddled interval of the tubular member for fluid flow between the packer elements to the interior of a supporting string of tubing comprising:

a tubular central actuating member for coupling to a supporting string of tubing;

anchor means on said actuating member for selective anchoring said well tool in a tubular member in a well bore in response to longitudinal movement only;

packer means including spaced apart, weight set packer elements disposed on said actuating member in a normally retracted first position relative to said anchor means and movable in response to weight applied in a longitudinal movement only to move to an extended second sealing position with respect to the tubular member in a well bore to seal off the straddled interval of the tubular member in a well bore;

valve means on said activating member for selectively coupling the interior of the activating member to the straddled interval of the tubular member;

coupling means for connecting said actuating member to said packer means for conjunctive movement between said first and said second positions and communication with a straddled interval of the tubular member in a well bore; and

said coupling means in said second position releasably coupling said actuating member to said valve means so that said valve means and actuating member can be moved to a third longitudinal position with said actuating member with longitudinal movement only after said packer elements are in an extended sealing condition for placing the interior of said actuating member in fluid communication with said straddled interval.

28. The well tool as set forth in claim 27 and further including means for releasably coupling said actuating member to said packer means after said packer means are in an extended sealing condition and are releasably locked in the extended sealing condition for permitting additional weight to be applied to said packer means.

29. The well tool as set forth in claim 28 wherein said packer means includes:

a packer support member disposed along said central actuating member, said packer support member having a support port,

a lower expander collar coupled to said anchor means and slidably mounted with respect to said packer support member,

a lower expander packer element, an intermediate expander collar with a valve port, an upper packer element and an upper expander collar slidably mounted on said packer support member; said valve port being alignable with said support port for fluid communication in said third position.

30. The well tool as set forth in claim 29 wherein said means for releasably coupling said actuating member to said packer means after said packer means are in an extended sealing condition includes a locking member for releasably interconnecting said upper expander collar to said central actuating member where said locking member first interconnects said packer support member and said upper expander collar and when said packer means are in an extended sealing condition then releases from said central actuating member, and wherein said valve port and said support port are in fluid communication.

31. A well tool having weight set packer elements for selectively straddling an interval of a tubular member in a well bore and for selectively coupling the straddled interval of the tubular member between the packer elements to the interior of a supporting string of tubing comprising:

a tubular central actuating member for coupling to the supporting string of tubing;

normally retracted anchor means on said actuating member which are releasable for selective anchoring said well tool in the tubular member in the well bore and for permitting relative longitudinal movement of said actuating member while anchored;

pressure operated means in said actuating member for releasing said anchor means;

packer means including weight set packer elements disposed on said actuating member in a normally retracted condition and responsive to weight applied first longitudinal movement of said actuating member in one direction to move to an extended sealing condition with respect to the tubular member in the well bore to seal off the interval of the tubular member in the well bore; and

normally closed valve means including ports in said actuating member closed by a valve sleeve member for selectively placing the interior of said actuating member in fluid communication with the sealed off interval of the tubular member in the well bore, said valve sleeve member being movable to open said ports in response to second longitudinal movement of said actuating member in said one direction after said packer elements are in the extended sealing condition.

32. The well tool as set forth in claim 31 where said longitudinal motion is in one direction and further including means on said central actuating member for releasably locking said packer means in the extended sealing condition prior to said valve means being operative for selectively placing the interior of said actuating member in fluid communication with the sealed off interval of the tubular member.

33. The well tool as set forth in claim 31 and further including means for coupling additional weight to said packer means after said packer means are in the extended sealing condition and are releasably locked in the extended sealing condition.

34. The well tool as set forth in claim 32 or 33 wherein said packer means includes

a packer support member disposed along said central actuating member, said packer support member having support port, selectively alignable with the ports in said actuating member,

a lower expander collar coupled to said anchor means and slidably mounted with respect to said packer support member,

a lower expander packer element, an intermediate valve sleeve member with valve ports, an upper packer element and an upper expander collar slidably mounted on said packer support members; said valve ports being selectively alignable with said support ports and said ports in said actuating mechanisms for fluid communication.
Description


FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a system for selectively isolating a lengthwise extending segment of a tubular member disposed in a well bore and for selectively operating a valve between a string of tubing and the isolated segment for transferring liquid between the isolated segment in the tubular member and the string of tubing. The system utilizes a well tool on which a string of tubing can be selectively anchored with respect to a tubular member and which can selectively open a valve in the well tool solely by longitudinal motion of a string of tubing. More particularly the invention has a specific application to systems for selectively injecting liquid cement slurry in a string of tubing into an inflatable packer device in a horizontal or non-vertical well bore for inflating the packer device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Horizontal drilling of well bores is a relatively new technology where an initial segment of a well bore extends in a generally vertical direction and then is angled in a direction which can be normal to a vertical or with other angular relationships with respect to the initial vertical segment of the well bore. Where a horizontal or non-vertical section of the well bore traverses earth formations which contain hydrocarbons it is desirable to isolate selected formations from one another along a segment of the well bore from other sections along the well bore.

The present invention provides a practical system for obtaining a cement type sealing mechanism in the annulus between a well pipe and a well bore in horizontal or non-vertical sections of a well bore.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is particularly useful in a system where a string of pipe is disposed in a well bore which includes horizontal and angularly deviated sections and where the string of pipe carries spaced apart inflatable packer devices in the angularly deviated sections. Inflatable packer devices are well known and are of the type which can be inflated by the injection of cement slurry under pressure through an access port in the packer device. The cement slurry under pressure fills and inflates an inflatable packer element with cement along the elongated packer element typically about 20 to 40 feet in length. After the cement hardens within the packing element on the inflatable packer, the well bore is isolated by the hardened cement and the packer element of the packer device.

The present system contemplates use of a well tool at the end of a string of tubing which can be inserted through an existing well pipe in the well bore and located in an inflatable packer device. The well tool has expandable packer elements above and below a normally closed valve opening when the packer elements are positioned to straddle a cement access port in the inflatable packer device. The packer elements are expanded by a longitudinal motion of the string of tubing and the valve opening is opened by longitudinal motion of the string of tubing so that cement can be pumped through the string of tubing and into the inflatable packer device to inflate the packer element on the inflatable packer. Following inflation of the packer device, the valve opening in the well tool is closed and the well tool packer elements retracted by an opposite longitudinal motion so that the string of pipe containing cement can be moved to a second inflatable packer device where the operation can be repeated to selectively inflate a second inflatable packer device.

When all of the inflatable packer devices in the string of pipe are inflated as described above, a circulation valve in the string of tubing is opened so that cement in the string of tubing can be reversed out to the earth's surface.

During this entire operation of inflating the inflatable packer devices, cement contained within the string of tubing is used to selectively inflate one or more packer elements of inflatable packer devices located in a string of pipe in a well bore.

In respect to structure, the well tool has locating means which are arranged to locate the well tool in an inflatable packer device disposed in a well bore so as to position a valve port or opening on the well tool adjacent to the access port of the inflatable packer device. After the well tool is located in a packer device, latching means are utilized to hold the well tool in a fixed position in the well tool. The latching means are dog elements which are held in a normally retracted position in the well tool while going in and are conditioned for operation after being located in a packer device by hydraulic pressure in the string of tubing.

When the well tool is in an inflatable packer device, a dart or plug is pumped down the string of tubing and seats in the well tool. Applied pressure in the string of tubing then enables a locking collar on the well tool to be shifted longitudinally to release the latching dog elements. The latching dog elements when released from the latching collar are spring biased outwardly into contact with the inner surface of the well pipe or packer device. Upon a downward shifting of the well tool, the projecting dog elements latch into an annular recess in the well pipe or inflatable packer device. The actuation of the latching dog elements does not operate the valve in the well tool. When the well tool is located with the latching dogs in position in the latching recess the latching dogs prevent a lower expander collar on the well tool from moving downward in a well pipe so that a downward stroke on the string of tubing moves a central actuating member in the well tool relative to the lower expander collar. The central actuating member is releasably coupled to an upper slidable expander collar on the well tool by a transfer dog latch means and compresses a pair of spaced apart expandable packer elements located adjacent to an intermediate expander collar to distort into sealing engagement with the wall of the well pipe at locations above and below a valve opening or port in the intermediate expander collar. Continued downward stroke of the string of tubing activates the transfer dog latch to lock the upper expander collar to the lower expander collar through an underlying packer support mandrel which extends along the interior of the expander collars. Thus the packer elements are locked in an expanded condition and in compressing the packer elements, the valve port or opening is aligned with a support mandrel valve opening located in the support mandrel.

After locking the packer elements in a set condition, further downward movement of the central actuating member interlocks with slidable valve sleeve which then moves with the central actuating member. The slidable valve sleeve has a valve sleeve port which is aligned with an actuating member port. The downward motion of the central actuating member after the packer elements are locked in a set condition then aligns the support member port and the valve port with the other ports. This places the port in the central actuating member in fluid communication with all of the aligned openings or ports so that fluid communication is accomplished between the bore of the central actuating member and the valve port in the intermediate collar member.

Cement slurry is pumped down the string of pipe behind a cement dart and the dart locks in the central actuating member at a location below the access port in the central actuating member. The cement slurry can then fill the inflatable packer element. When the inflatable packer device is fully inflated, the tool operation is reversed. That is, picking up on the string of tubing closes the valve opening in the intermediate expander member and moves the valve sleeve back to a locked condition with the packer support mandrel and releases the packer support mandrel from its locked position. Further upward travel deactivates the packer elements and locks the packer support mandrel to the central actuating member. Still further upward movement releases the dog elements from the latching groove.

The released tool together with a cement slurry in the string of tubing is raised to the next above inflatable packer where the inflation process is repeated. This operation can be repeated for as many inflatable well packers as required. Upon completion of the operation, the tool is located in a blank section of casing and pressure can be introduced into the well bore annulus to open a circulation valve so that cement can be reversed out of the string of tubing prior to retrieving the well tool.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an application of the present invention in a well bore environment;

FIG. 2 is an outline illustration of an assembled well tool according to the present invention;

FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B are end to end views in longitudinal cross section of an embodiment of the well tool of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a view in longitudinal quarter section of the well tool of FIGS. 3A, 3B run into an inflatable well packer;

FIG. 5 is a view in longitudinal quarter section of the well tool of FIGS. 3A, 3B with the dog elements for anchoring shown in a released condition;

FIG. 6 is a view in longitudinal quarter section of the well tool of FIGS. 3A, 3B with cement slurry introduced into the well tool;

FIG. 7 is a view in longitudinal quarter section of the well tool of FIGS. 3A, 3B with the dog elements in an anchoring position;

FIG. 8 is a view in longitudinal quarter section of the well tool of FIGS. 3A, 3B with the well tool valve opened and an inflatable packer element inflated;

FIG. 9 is a view in partial longitudinal cross section showing the dog elements in an anchoring condition, and the tool in a set condition;

FIG. 10 is a view in longitudinal cross section of a circulating valve for use with the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a dog element; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a portion of the upper locking collar.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, in completing well zones such as the zones 15, 16 and 17 indicated in the drawings where there is a horizontal section or non-vertical section 18 of well bore, spaced apart inflatable packers 19, 20 and 21 are connected to one another by an interconnecting pipe members 22 and 23 and are connected by a string of pipe or casing 24 to the surface of the ground. The section of pipe 22 and 23 located between the inflatable packers 19 and 20 and between packers 20 and 21 can be pre-slotted or can be perforated before the inflatable packers are expanded.

The inflatable packers can be, for example, of the type illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,402,517 where an elongated elastomer packer element is disposed about a central metal tubular member. The valving for the inflation of the packer element is preferably at an upper end of the tool and serves to control the admission of cement and inflation of the packer element. In the present invention a knock out cap is not required and the opening to the valve is at the inner wall of the central member. When a liquid cement slurry is introduced into the annular space between the inflatable packer element and the central tubular member, the packer element is inflated into sealing engagement with the wall of the well bore 25 thereby providing fluid tight seal of the wall of the well bore with respect to the central tubular member of the inflatable packer. It can be appreciated that where the inflatable packers are spaced from one another, the zone intermediate of adjacent inflatable packers can be produced through perforations in the connecting pipe 24 to the ground surface.

As shown in FIG. 2, in one aspect of the present invention, a selectively operated well tool 30 can be insertable through the string of pipe 24 at the end of a string of tubing 31 to a location within the lowermost or the inflatable packer 19 which is the most remote from the end of the string of pipe at the earth's surface. Associated with each packer 19, 20, 21 is an anchor profile member 19a, 20a and 21a. The selectively operable well tool 30 can be located and anchored with respect to an annular profile member 19a of an inflatable packer so that a pair of spaced apart packer elements 102, 104 on the well tool 31 can be expanded to isolate a valve opening (not shown in FIG. 2) in the inflatable packer device. The well tool 30 is operated to place a valve opening 130 in the well tool into fluid communication with the isolated valve opening in the inflatable packer device so that liquid cement slurry can be pumped down the string of tubing 31 and moved through a selectively opened valve in the well tool 30 to the isolated valve opening located between the spaced apart sealing elements 102, 104 on the selectively operated well tool. When the liquid cement slurry is passed through valve opening 130 between the packer elements 102, 104 on the well tool 30 and enters into the access opening of an inflatable packer device, the packer element on the inflatable packer device is inflated. When the inflatable packer element is fully deployed or inflated and is in sealing operative condition in the well bore 25, the operator picks up or lifts the string of tubing 31 which first closes the valve in the well tool 30 and prevents liquid cement slurry in the string of tubing from escaping from the string of tubing. Further upward movement of the string of tubing then releases the packer elements 102,104 on the well tool 30 and then de-actuates or unanchors the well tool so that it can be raised or shifted to the next closest inflatable packer device.

When the well tool reaches the next inflatable packer device 20, the anchor 50 on the well tool 30 is again set by a downward motion of the tubing string so that the valve opening 35 is located proximate to the access opening of the inflatable packer device. After anchoring the well tool, the downward movement of the string of tubing selectively first sets and locks the spaced apart packing elements 102,104 on the well tool and then opens the valve in the well tool so that cement in the string of tubing 31 can be introduced through the valve to the access opening in the inflatable packer element and inflate the inflatable packer element to a sealing condition with respect to the well bore wall. After the inflatable packer element is fully extended, the string of tubing is again picked up and the valve in the well tool 30 is first closed followed by unsetting of the packing elements 102,104, followed by unanchoring of the well tool so that it is released from the inflatable packing element. As may be appreciated if there are more than two inflatable packer devices in the well bore this process can be sequentially repeated until all or the selected packer devices are inflated as desired.

In the foregoing system, the well tool 30 has locating means 38 which serve to locate the well tool relative to a profile member (19a, for example). The tool 30 has anchoring or latching means 50 shown in a retracted condition which are selectively movable outwardly of the well tool to engage a profile member. An upper expander collar 114 is selectively coupled to a central actuating member 52 which selectively sets the packing elements 102,104. The central actuating member 52 is coupled to a circulating valve 40 which, in turn is coupled to a string of tubing 31.

When the inflation of the inflatable packer devices is completed, the tool 30 is located in a blank section of casing and set and pressure is applied in the annulus between the string of pipe and the string of tubing to open the pressure operated circulating valve 40 in the string of tubing. When the circulating valve 40 is opened, the cement in the string of tubing can be pressured out through the tubing and returned to the earth's surface by pumping fluid through the annulus between the string of pipe and the string of tubing which is a well known process known as reverse circulation.

A selective operating valve 35 (dashed line, FIG. 2) within the well tool as well as the anchor means 50 in the embodiment illustrated are sequentially operated by the central tubular actuating member 52. Hydraulic pressure is utilized first to release the anchor means 50 relative to the central actuating member 52. Then, slacking off or a downward movement of the central actuating member 52 relative to the anchor means 50 sets the anchor in a profile member against downward movement, sets the expandable packer elements 102,104 on the well tool 30 and opens the valve 35 in the well tool. A reverse motion of the central actuating member 52 sequentially closes the valve 35, unsets the packer elements 102,104 and releases the anchor members from a profile member.

The anchor means 50 as shown in FIG. 3B and shown partially in FIG. 9 includes the tubular central actuating member 52 which is comprised of a number of interconnected parts which are not separately identified for clarification purposes. A tubular lower expander collar 54 is disposed about the terminal end of the central actuating member 52 and has circumferentially spaced elongated recesses 56 (see FIG. 9) which receive elongated dog elements 58. The lower expander collar 54 is comprised of a number of interconnected parts which are not separately identified for clarification purposes. The dog elements 58 (see FIG. 11) have a somewhat triangular configuration in longitudinal cross section with an outer curved surface 59 in transverse cross section which aligns within the outer cylindrical configuration of the well tool in an initial unactuated condition of a dog element. A dog element 58 is held in the initial retracted condition by an upper lip segment 60 which extends over the recess 56 in the lower expander collar 54 and by an annular wall 62 of a locking collar 64 which engages a lock recess or notch 66 in the outer surface of a dog element 58. The locking collar 64 is comprised of a number of interconnected parts which are not separately identified for clarification purposes. At the lower inner end of a dog element 58 is a tab 68 which extends through an opening 70 (see FIG. 9) in the wall of the lower expander collar 54 and is lodged in an annular recess 72 in the central actuating member 52. Each dog element 58 has an intermediate pair of recesses 74 which receive compressed spring members. Thus, in the position of a dog element 58 shown in FIG. 3B, the dog elements are confined within the cylindrical configuration of the well tool, the spring members are compressed, and the tabs 68 interlock the central actuating member 52 to the lower expander collar 54.

The locking collar 64 is releasably coupled to the lower expander collar 54 by a shear pin 76 in a first position (FIG. 3B). When the shear pin 76 is sheared, the locking collar 64 can slide downwardly on the lower expander collar 54 until facing surfaces 78,79 on the lower expander collar 54 and the locking collar 64 abut one another in a second position (FIG. 9). The locking collar 64 has an internal annular recess 80 which contains a snap ring 81 and the latching collar 54 has a longitudinally displaced external recess 82. When the facing surfaces 78,79 abut one another in the second position (FIG. 9), the snap ring 81 will latch into the external recess 82 to retain the locking collar 64 in the second position. In the second position, the annular wall 62 is displaced from the notch 66 in a dog element 58 and the dog element 58 can spring outwardly relative to the outer cylindrical configuration of the well tool so that the notch 66 in a dog element is displaced outward from the outer cylindrical configuration of the well tool. The arrangement is such that the tab 68 will not release the locking collar 54 from the central actuating member 52 until the dog element is in an annular latching groove 59 (FIG. 9). The length of the dog elements 50 is such that the elements are longer than pipe gaps at collars and will not be falsely anchored in a casing collar groove. When the dog element 58 is in a latching groove 59, the tab 68 is removed from the recess 72 in the central actuating member 52 so that the central actuating member 52 is released for movement relative to the lower expander collar 54.

At the lower end of the locking collar 64 is a bore section 82a which contains an annular plug seat 84 for receiving a closure plug member (not shown in FIG. 3B). A closure plug member 85 (see FIG. 5) may be pumped down the string of tubing so that it seats in the bore of the plug seat 84 so that hydraulic pressure can be applied to the locking collar 64 to shear the shear pin 76 which releasably connects the lower expander collar 54 to the locking collar 64. The plug seat 84, as illustrated in the drawings, is in an annularly shaped sleeve which is shear pinned by a shear pin 86 to the locking collar 64. If the pressure on the closure plug is increased to a value above the shear value for the shear pin 86, the shear pin 86 will release and the plug seat 84 will move downwardly in the locking collar 64 to a lower position in engagement with a catcher flange 88 on the locking collar 64. In this position of the plug seat, a bypass opening 90 in the locking collar 64 is open for communication between the interior of the bore section 82 and the exterior of the well tool.

On the lower exterior end of the locking collar 64 are circumferentially arranged, longitudinally extending finger members 92 which have outwardly extending detent portions 94 arranged around the circumference of the well tool. The finger members 92 are designed so that the detent portions 94 can engage an upwardly facing shoulder 95 (see FIG. 9) in an inflatable packer device or collar in the well pipe. The finger members 92 have a rectangular cross section and have limited radial flexibility so that the detent portions 94 can be moved into and out of the recess 97 which defines the shoulder 95 but only with a detectable force level on the string of pipe so that the operator can determine when the detent portions 94 engage shoulder above a latching groove 95. This provides a positive locating device for the system.

In operation, the well tool is lowered by the string of tubing to a location where the detent portions 94 positively locate the shoulder 95 and the adjacent annular latching notch 59 in a selected inflatable packer device 99 (see FIG. 4). This location is obtained by measurement of the length of the string of pipe or tubing in the well bore so that the detents portions 94 first pass the shoulder 95 and then pass the notch 59. At this time the detent portions 94 in the locking collar are below the latching groove 59 in the inflatable packer device 99 or collar and the dog elements 58 are located above the latching groove 59. The force on the string of tubing will increase to give the operator at the surface an observable indication that the detent portions 94 are just past the shoulder 95 and the latch groove 59 in the inflatable packer device 99 and thus insure the proper placement of the well tool.

The plug element 85 (see FIG. 5) is dropped into the string of pipe and pumped down under liquid under pressure to seat in the plug seat 84 and sufficient pressure is applied to shear the shear pin 76 and to move the locking collar 64 to a position where the dog elements 58 are disengaged and project outwardly into contact with the wall of the inflatable packer element and where the ring 81 in the recess 82 (FIG. 9) hold the locking collar 64 in the second position relative to the upper expander collar 54. The sizing of the outer circumference of the well tool relative to the bore of the packer device and the dog elements 58 is such that the tabs 68 retain the expander collar 54 and central actuating member 52 interlocked until the dog elements 58 are fully extended into a latching groove.

When the dog elements 58 are initially released, the detent portions are below the latching groove and thus the operator knows that when the string of pipe is lowered, the spring biased dog elements to engage with the latching groove in the inflatable packer element device 99. Before lowering the well tool and after the dog elements 58 are released, the pump pressure is increased to shear the pin 76 and move the plug 85 and seat 84 to the flange 84 (FIG. 3B) and open the ports 90. Next as shown in FIG. 5, a cementing plug 101 and cement slurry 103 can be introduced through the string of tubing to the closed valve in the well tool. Next, the string of tubing is lowered and the engagement of the notches 66 on the dog elements 58 with the latching groove is immediately apparent by the change in force on the string of tubing applied at the earth's surface (see FIG. 7). When the dog elements 58 are in the latching groove 59, the tab elements 68 are released from the central actuating member 52 and upon continued downward slacking off or applying force to the central actuating member 52, the packer elements 102,104 on the tool are expanded and the valve in the tool is actuated or opened.

Referring now to FIG. 3A, the valve in the well tool includes the central actuating member 52 and a valve sleeve 100 which operate in conjunction with straddle packer elements 102,104 and a tubular packer support member 106. The support member 106 is a tubular member disposed on the central actuating member 52 intermediately between the actuating member 52 and the upper expander collar 114. As illustrated in the drawings (FIG. 3B), the lower expander collar 54 has an internal shoulder 108 which engages a flange 110 on the packer support member 106 (at its lower end). Slidably mounted on the packer support member 106 is the internal shoulder 108 of the lower expander collar 54, the lower packer element 104, an intermediate expander collar 112, the upper packer element 102 and an upper expander collar 114.

The upper expander collar 114, which is an outer tubular member with respect to the central actuating member 52, is releasably coupled to the central actuating member 52 so that the central actuating member 52 can move the upper expander collar 114 downwardly to compress the upper and lower packer elements 102,104 on the packer support member 106. This is accomplished by a releasable interconnection between the upper expander collar 114 and the central actuating member 52 which consists of radially movable detent members 120 (see FIG. 12) which are supported by lengthwise extending spring members 121 disposed between lengthwise extending slots 122,123 in an inner tubular sleeve part 124. The sleeve part 124 is disposed in an annulus between the tubular packer support member 106 and the central actuating member 52. The inner tubular sleeve part 124 and the outer upper expander collar 114 define an annular recess. The detent members 120 are circumferentially disposed about the sleeve part 124 (see FIG. 12) and received in detent recesses 125 in the sleeve part 124.

The detent members 120 engage an annular recess 122 in the central actuating member 52 and are held in position in the recess 122 by the inner cylindrical surface of the packer support mandrel 106. As a consequence of the interconnection, downward movement of the central actuating member 52 moves the detent members 120 and the interconnected upper expander member 114 downwardly to a location where a valve port 130 in the expander collar 112 is in alignment with a support member port 132 in the packer support mandrel 106 and the locking detent members 120 are located adjacent to an annular a detent recess 138 in the packer support member 106. Also, the lower face 126 of the upper expander collar 114 engages the upper face 127 of the packer support member 106.

At the location just described, the detent members 120 switch from the detent groove or recess 122 in the central actuating member 52 to the other detent groove or recess 138 in the packer support member 106 and effectively trap or lock the upper expander collar 114 to the packer support member 106 in a position where the upper and lower packer elements 102,104 on the packer support member 106 are compressed and in engagement with the inner wall of the inflatable packer device. (See FIG. 7). At this time actuating member ports 134 in the central actuating member 52 are in fluid communication with valve sleeve ports 136 in the valve sleeve 100.

At the same time that the packer elements 102,104 are being locked in a compressed condition within an inflatable packer device, an annular recess 140 in the central actuating member 52 is located next to locking detent members 142 on collet fingers 144 on the upper end of the valve sleeve 100. The locking detent members 142 are initially in a locking recess 150 in the packer supporting mandrel 106 and are released into the annular recess 140 on the central actuating member 52. A downwardly facing shoulder 145 on the central actuating member 52 engages an upwardly facing shoulder 147 on the valve sleeve 100 so that the valve sleeve 100 and the central actuating member 52 (and aligned ports 134, 136) can be moved downwardly into alignment with the aligned valve port 130 and the support member port 132. Fluid may be communicated between the isolated area between the packer elements 102,104 and the interior of the string of tubing. If desired, the tubing string can be further lowered to cause a shoulder 150 on the well tool which is engaged with the upper end 152 of the upper expander collar 114 to exert an additional downward sealing pressure on the upper and lower packer elements 102,104 to maintain the sealing engagement with the interior wall of an inflatable packer device.

The cementing plug 101 is adapted to be seated in an internal bore section 152 in the central actuating member 52 and locked therein. The internal bore section 152 has latching grooves 154 for the plug 101. When the ports 134, 136,132,130 are aligned, cement can be pumped into the isolated space between the compressed packer elements 102,104 and into an access opening on the inflatable packer element 99. Because the annular space between the intermediate expander collar 112 and the wall of an inflatable packer device 99 is very small, little cement is displaced into the annulus between the outer housing and the inner wall of an inflatable packer.

When sufficient cement slurry has been injected into an inflatable packer device to inflate the packer element of the packer device, the operator raises the string of tubing which reverses the sequence of operations. When the central actuating member 52 is moved upwardly, the valve sleeve 100 is moved upwardly until the collet detents 142 reseat in the lower recess 150 on the central support member 52. This closes off the valve port 136. At the same time, the dog latches 120 transfer from the upper recess 138 on the packer support mandrel 106 to the recess 122 in the central actuating member 52. When the upper expander collar 114 is latched to the central actuating member 52, the packer elements 102,104 are decompressed as the setting force is removed. A shoulder 160 on the central actuating member 52 engages the lower end of the packer support member 106 and moves the support member 106 to the initial condition as shown in FIG. 3A.

In the foregoing description of this complex tool reference has not been made to O-rings which are utilized for sealing purposes. O-rings are interdispersed throughout the tool to provide sealing as necessary to accomplish the proper functioning of the tool similarly bypass or relief ports are shown but not described such ports being commonly used to prevent creation of undesirable pressure differentials in the well tool. However, of note is the packing element seal 107 on the valve sleeve 100 located below the support mandrel port 132 to assure that cement can not leak into the tool.

Referring to FIG. 10, a circulation valve 40 is illustrated which interconnects between a string of tubing and the central actuating member 52. The circulation valve 40 includes an outer tubular housing 41 with longitudinally spaced pressure ports 42 and valve ports 43. A tubular valve sleeve 44 is shear pinned by a pin 45 in a position where the sleeve 44 closes off the valve ports 43. Upon the application of sufficient pressure on the exterior of the housing 41 greater than the pressure in the bore of the housing, the differential pressure acts to shear the pin 45 and move the valve sleeve 44 upwardly. The valve sleeve 44 has a recess 46 which receives a spring biased latching ring 47 in an uppermost position of the sleeve 44 to retain the sleeve 44 in a locked position with the ports 43 opened. Thus, well fluid exterior to the housing 40 can be used to reverse out cement slurry in the string of tubing above the circulation valve.

FIG. 4 through FIG. 8 illustrate the use of the well tool in an inflatable packer. The inflatable packer 99 includes a tubular support member 200 underlying an expandable elastomer packer element 201 which typically is 20 to 40 feet in length. The inflatable packer 99 has valve means 203 which are disposed in a passageway between an opening in the bore 205 of the packer device and the interior space between the support member 200 and the packer element 201. The valve means 203 operates to open in response to sufficient pressure to admit a slow setting cement slurry and shuts off to retain the cement slurry in an inflated packer element. As illustrated, the lower end of the packer device 99 has an annular recess to define an upwardly facing shoulder 95 just above the locating recess 59 (see FIG. 9).

The inflatable packer devices are connected to one another by pipe connections and disposed in a well bore (see FIG. 1). The pipe sections between the packer devices may be pre-perforated or slotted or may be perforated after the packer devices are inflated. While preslotted pipes are a preferred completion, it is possible to perforate through an inflated packer device for production or use other completion techniques.

With the inflatable packer devices in location in a well bore, the well tool of the present invention is lowered on a string of tubing to the lowermost packer device. The detent means 92 are utilized and useful in assurance at the earth's surface that a tool is properly located in a packer device but pipe measurements could be sufficient for accuracy in any number of instances. As show in FIG. 4, in an initial condition the dog elements 58 are retracted within the well tool, the packing elements 102,104 are unset and the valve ports 130,132,134,136 are isolated so that the valve means in the well tool is closed.

From this initial condition as shown in FIG. 5 a plug 85 is sized to pass through the tubing string and the central actuating member 52 of the well tool to seat in the plug seat 84 and under sufficient well fluid pressure enables the shear pin 76 to shear so that the locking collar 64 moves from a first position to a second position relative to the lower expander collar 54. In the second position, the locking collar 64 is locked in position by a snap ring 81 in a recess 82 and the dog elements 58 are spring biased outwardly of the well tool.

The pressure on the plug 85 is then further increased to a sufficient value to shear the pin 86 which opens the bypass ports 90 in the lower end of the locking collar 64.

As shown in FIG. 6, a second plug 101 can be pumped down in front of a column of cement slurry to seat in a bore section 152 (see FIG. 3A) so that the cement is available to actuate the inflatable packer. As illustrated the plug seat 84 is moved from the bore to open the bypass ports 90.

As shown in FIG. 7, a downward stroke of the tubing string engages the dog members 58 with the annular latching groove 59 and provides a stop for the lower expander collar 54 so that the packer elements 102,104 can be expanded and locked into a state of compression before the ports 134,136 are aligned with the ports 130,132. Thus, the pack-off above and below an access port to the inflatable packer device is obtained before the valve of the well tool is opened.

As shown in FIG. 8, further downward travel of the central actuating member 52 aligns the ports 134,136 with the ports 130,132 so that the valve in the well tool is open and the cement slurry in the tubing string has access to the packed off space in the inflatable packer so that cement slurry is admitted into the inflatable packer through its access opening and valve means to inflate the packer element 201 with cement slurry.

When the inflatable packer element 201 is filled and the well bore sealed off, the operation is discontinued by discontinuing the pump pressure on the cement slurry and lifting up on the string of tubing. The well tool sequentially operates in a reverse fashion with the valve first closing (FIG. 7) and then the packer elements 102,104 unsetting (FIG. 6) so that the dog elements can be released from the locking groove. Because the locking collar and expander collar are locked in a second and open condition, the tool can be raised while it still contains cement slurry to locate the next above profile. When the profile is located, the tool can be lowered to latch the dog elements 58 in a profile, set the packer elements 102,104 and open the valve by aligning the ports 130,132,134,136 to inflate the next above or next selected packer device.

When the final cement slurry injection has been performed, the tool is raised to a blank section of pipe so that pressure on fluid or liquid in the annulus can be used to open the circulation valve 40 and reverse the cement slurry from the tubing string.

While the present invention has been described relative to injecting cement slurry into inflatable packer devices to inflate such devices with cement it should be recognized that the tool provides a straddle packer device with a valve and anchor. While the anchor is shown as actuated by hydraulic pressure in longitudinal motion, the straddle packer and valve operated by longitudinal motion can utilize other types of anchors for other applications. For example, a j-slot operated slip anchor or a hydraulic operated slip anchor could be useful in somme instances with the straddle packer and valve for either injected or receiving liquids.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is enclosed in the drawings and specifications but only as indicated in the appended claims.

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